According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 1 in 59 individuals diagnosed on the autism spectrum. At age 21 special education services cease to be a mandatory service, so that when teens leave high school they fall off what has been called the “services cliff.” The focus of LifeWorks at WKU is the transition into independent living, securing employment, and engaging in community and leisure activities for autistic students ready to enter the workforce from the Bowling Green/Warren County area and beyond. LifeWorks at WKU is a 4-tier program that will focus on independence, productivity, and community engagement. The Four Tiers: - Supported Living - Supported Employment - Community Engagement - Education for Relationships at Home, in the Workplace and in the Community This is an incredibly unique program in that there are relatively few programs of this nature in the country, if any, that are directly attached to a University. We will join the ranks of pioneers in providing programming and support for individuals on the autism spectrum as they transition to adult life, and navigate the work world independently. The impact of the LifeWorks at WKU program could be transformational for individual participants, their families, and the Bowling Green/Warren County community, and potentially the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.